Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to operating system experience states. Input may be received that requests a change from a current experience state to a target experience state. In response, state data may be obtained that indicates allowed experience states as well as component data that indicates components and relationships between components in the target experience state. This state data may then be used to change from the current experience state to a target experience state. The target experience state may be used, for example, to configure a server or other operating system.